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It’s ‘bronde’ but better: no harsh lines, no chunky highlights, and it’s better than your usual balayage. Here’s all you need to know about it.
Summer is inching closer, and with it comes the hottest hair color on the beauty radar: Raffia Bronde. Coined by hairstylist and trend watcher Tom Smith, it isn’t your ordinary blend of brunette and bronde (a.k.a. ‘bronde’) often defined by obvious contrasts and chunky highlights. She’s the smoother, more sophisticated cousin of the standard, looking as if she’s just come home from an idyllic beach vacation even before summer had started. But there’s more to it than just mixing two shades. Here, we break down why Raffia Bronde is the hair color of the season, and how to bring it to life in the salon.
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What is Raffia Bronde?
‘Bronde’ per se is nothing new. We’ve seen its evolution from the 2015 ombré trends to the more refined balayage looks of recent seasons. Raffia Bronde? It stands apart by offering a more luxe take—much like the sunlit and soft woven fiber it’s named after.
“This is melted, multi-tonal, and effortlessly expensive-looking,” Tom Smith shares in his seasonal trend forecast. More than simply blending two shades together, Raffia Bronde is more relaxed and dreamy, ridding itself of the harsh, fresh-from-a-bleach-job effect of usual ‘brondes.’ Up close or from a distance, you’ll see that each tone seems to melt into the next with no “cut” or abrupt shifts; it looks kissed by light rather than dyed.
How to Ask For It at the Salon
For the perfect look, be specific with your colorist. Ask for a soft and blended ‘bronde’ with multi-dimensional tones. Be sure to emphasize a seamless melt between brunette and blonde, so as to avoid the chunky highlights and blocky hair in general.
To brighten up your features, request soft face-framing highlights around your face. More than giving a subtle lift, this enhances the whole ‘Raffia Bronde’ effect. Meanwhile, for the low-maintenance enjoyers, ask for a root shadow to keep your natural hair color at the roots and stretch the grow-out. This is perfect for those who can’t frequent the salon for constant touch-ups.
Last Tip: Don’t rely on words alone and bring reference photos. Colorists are professionals in their own right, but you can never be too sure about what you want, especially when it involves something semi-permanent. Nothing gets lost in translation faster than a hair color session without a visual.
Is it High Maintenance?
In a word—yes. Any shade that involves lightening is a commitment, and this shade of ‘bronde’ is no exception.
Especially for Asians with naturally darker hair, the fight against brassiness is a struggle we know all too well. Left unchecked, the golden undertones can go from looking “expensive” as per Tom Smith to an “unintended tangerine” faster than we’d like.
To maintain the look, invest in the right aftercare—starting with purple shampoo. Used once or twice a week, this kind of shampoo keeps the warmth in check without removing the depth that makes ‘Raffia Bronde’ so rich. Next, focus on hydration. Coloring your hair can be quite damaging, so to bring back some moisture, use hair masks and lightweight oils.
If you want to take it to the next level and extend the lifespan of the color, apply toning gloss every few weeks.
Should You Get It?
Also in a word—yes. It’s the kind of look that works with its wearer, and all it needs is the light to make a statement. It works in all settings, from beach trips to candlelit dinners.
It’s also a great color to wear in sunny places like the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia (provided you wear heat protectant, of course) where the natural sunlight can make your hair color pop. Multi-dimensional tones here become a match made in heaven.
It’s also perfect for those who love their ombré and balayage but instead of your usual harsh streaks, it keeps the natural depth of your hair color while blending with the lighter tones more seamlessly as if you didn’t really try. After all, isn’t effortless always the goal?
Featured Image and Photos: 21METGALA (via X), SYDNEY SWEENEY, and ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY (via Instagram)
